Neglected research
Africa wants to sequence the genomes of endangered species
We know too little about the genomes of plants and animals on the African continent. A project now aims to change that.
More knowledge about biodiversity: in the African BioGenome Project, the red mangrove is also being sequenced. | Image: Michael Dietrich/Image Broker/Keystone
Red mangroves line the coast of Nigeria and sleeper fish are a staple food in West Africa – but we know little about their genomes. And this is true for over 95 percent of the African continent’s endangered species, according to an article in Nature. Its authors also estimate that of the roughly 35 projects that have focused on biodiversity in Africa in the past 15 years, 25 have been run from outside the continent.
The African BioGenome Project wants to change that by sequencing 105,000 endemic species. At present, it involves more than 100 African researchers and over 20 African organisations. Not only does the project aim to improve our knowledge about biodiversity, but also to strengthen the position of researchers on the ground.
